Posture attachments for seats



Jan- 1, 1957 J. E. GOODEVE POSTURE ATTACHMENTS FOR SEATS Filed March ll, 1954 E V Rm 0.0 To N E G V N E l S m J m ATTOR Y. lo

POSTURE ATTACHMENTS FOR SEATS .lames E. Goodeve, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 11, 1954, Serial No. 415,513 s claims.` (cl. 15s- 182) This invention relates to posture attachments for use in conjunction with seats of any type or kind and einployed in conjunction with backrests of the seats to engage and support the back of the occupant of the seat More particularly, the invention deals with a posture attachment of the character described employing a counterbalance supporting band or strap, by means of which the attachment can'be quickly and easily adjusted to any desired position upon the back of a seat or chair of any type or kind. j

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention aregdisclosed` and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of thegviews and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a posture attachment made according to my invention, diagrammatically illustrating the same arranged upon the back of `av chair sheet and with part of the construction broken away and, in section; and

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

My present invention deals with posture attachments of the type and kind disclosed in my prior Patent Number 2,582,115, granted January 8, 1952. The present invention deals primarily with the means for supporting a posture attachment in connection with a chair or seat backrest, so that quick and simple adjustments can be made for positioning the attachment on the backrest and, further, to provide quick attachment and detachment of the device, in connection with a suitable support.

In the accompanying drawing, 10 represents a fabric loop, which may be of single or double thickness depending upon the type of fabric employed and within this loop is arranged a spring strip 11 which may be composed of any type or kind of material and I have found that composition-board, plastic-boards and the like are suitable for this purpose and these boards are normally straight and of a length greater than the normal diameter of the loop 10, so that, when the spring strips 11 are exed, they will support the loop 10 in the manner clearly disclosed in Fig. l, the strip 11 assuming a crescent shape, with the part 12 of the loop 10 stretched tautly between terminal ends 13 of the strip 11. The part 12 is adapted to be engaged by the back of the occupant of the chair and will yield to pressure, in which operation, the spring strip 1l will yieldably resist the pressure against the part 12.

Secured to a part of the loop 10 is a rigid crossplate or panel 14, preferably enclosed within a fabric casing or jacketing 15. The crossplate or panel 14 is preferably shorter than the length of the part 12 of the loop, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 and can be composed of plywood, heavy breboard or any suitable but relatively light material. This crossplate is adapted to engage the backrest portion of a seat or chair and at 16 I have indicated in dot and dash lines the general position of nited States Patentice Patented Jan. l, 1957 2 a backrest. It will be apparent that the backrest may have any desired contour and be of any structure. In this connection it is to be kept in mind that my posture attachment is not only used in connection with chairs of various types and descriptions, but can be practically used on the backrest of motor vehicle seats of any type or kind.

It will be noted from a consideration of Fig. 2 ofthe drawing that the width of the backplate 14 is substantially common with the width of the spring strip 11.

Secured between the facing 15 of the backplate'14 and the adjacent part of the loop 10 is one end portion 17 of a supporting strap or yband 18, as by stitching at 19. The strap` or band18 is made relatively long and, in use, is passed upwardly on the inner surface of the crescent strip 11, as seen at 20, then over the top of the strip I and the backplate 14, as seen at 21, with the end portion element 26, which can be of any desired type and kind.

In the present construction, the element 26 consists of a sealed envelope 27, in which sand 28 is disposed.

The 4weight element 26 is of sufficient weight to counterbalance the backrest portion of the attachment comprising the loop 10, the spring stripll and the backplate 14, this counterbalance being( such that, on a smooth wood orr metal backed chair, the attachment can be readily adjusted for height position on the backrest to suit 'the occupant of the Ichairor seat. The strap 18 is preferably composed of a soft and nap-like material to establish frictional engagement to aid in the counterbalancingoperation of the attachment. In fact, the entire fabric portion of the attachment can be made of double faced velour, corduroy or the like to become decorative, as well as practical in use. In this connection, it will be understood, however, that any type or kind of material can be employed and where the attachment is intended for rough usage, more substantial and durable material can be employed.

For purposes of description, the posture attachment may be said to comprise a yieldable back engaging member which is defined by the loop 10 with the spring strip 11 disposed therein and the rigid panel a support for the member, upon the backrest of a seat. It will appear, from a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawing, that the yieldable member has a rocking action upon the panel by reason of the outward flare of the ends 13 of strip 11. This wide spacing of the ends 13 with respect to the ends of the panel 14 will compensate for movement or turning of the body with respect to the backrest of the seat. From another standpoint, the member referred to above may be considered as a yieldable backrest band, with which the counterbalance means, such as the strap 18, with its weighted end, is coupled. It will also -be apparent that my invention is not limited to the use of any particular type or kind of back engaging member, as any member of this kind can be adjustably supported upon a seat backrest through the medium of the counterbalance means which provides adjustable positioning of the back engaging member on said backrest.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A posture attachment of the character described, comprising a loop of flexible material, a yieldable strip of greater length than the diameter of said loop and arranged in the loop to support the same in substantially crescent-shape, With a portion of the loop stretched between opposed ends ot said strip, said strip assuming a 3 curved contour when disposed in said loop withl the material of the loop facing said strip, a rigid straight panel, a facing of exible material on said panel, said facing being fixed to said loop, said panel being arranged cen-y trally with respect to the curvature of said strip with its upper and `lower edges within limits of corresponding edges ofsaid loop when the attachment-is 4in use, said panel being adapted to bear Aagainst a backrest in the use of the attachment, the ends of said strip flaring outwardly away from ends of said panel to provide rocking of the loop and lstrip on the adjacent surface of said faced panel, and means attached to said panel facing for retaining the attachment -in position on a backrest.

2. A posture attachment :of the character described, comprising Va loop of flexible materia-l, a yieldable strip of greater length than the diameter of said loop and arranged in the loop to `support the same in substantially crescent-shape, with a portion of the loop stretched between opposed ends of said strip, said strip assuming a curved contour when disposed in said loop with the material kof the loop facing said strip, a rigid straight panel, a facing of flexible material on said panel, said facing ybeing fixed to said loop, said panel being arranged centrally with respect to the curvature of said strip with its upper and lower edges within limits of corresponding edges of said loop when the attachment is in use, said panel beingadapted to bear against a backrest in the use of the attachment, the ends 0f said strip flaring outwardly away from ends of said panel to provide rocking of the Vloop and strip on the adjacent surface of said faced panel, means attached to said panel facing for retaining the attachment in position on a backrest, said last named means comprising an elongated band, one end of which is attached to the loop adjacent said panel, and means for weighting the other end of said band.

3. A posture attachment of the character described, comprising a loop of flexible material, a yieldable strip of greater length than the diameter of said loop and arranged in the loop to support the same in substantially crescent-shape, with a portion of the loop stretched between opposed ends of said strip, said strip assuming a curved contour when disposed in said loop with the material of the loop facing said strip, a rigid straight panel, a facing of exible material on said panel, said facing being xed to said loop, said panel being arranged centrally with respect "to the curvature of said strip when the attachment is in use, said panel being adapted to bear against a backrest 'in the *use l'of the attachment, the ends of said strip aring voutwardly away from ends of said panel to provide rocking of the loop and strip on said panel, means attach'e'd'to lsaidfpanel facing for retaining the attachment in position on a backrest, said last named means comprising an elongated band, one end of which is attached to the loop adjacent said panel, means for weightingthe other endl of lsaid band, Vattachment of the band to said loop :being1at -the lower edge portion of the loop in the-usefposition of the loop, and said band-extending upwardly through the loop and over the -upper edge thereof.

yReferences Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l1,257,427 Underwood Feb. 26, 1918 1,404,451 Love Ian. 24, 1922 2,582,115 :Goodeve Jan. 8, 1952 v2,621,714- Kiwad Dec. 16, 1952 2,626,654 Fout Jan. 27, 1953 2,632,497 Brady Mar. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 233,844 Great Britain May 21, 1925 '258,350 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1926 '637,638 'GreatBritain May 24, 1950 

